Locomotive structure



,39,663 H. M. PFLAGER 2 Sheets-Sheet l LIVE/V701? kan?) M .pf/yer LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 14. 1926 Aug. 23 1927.

H. M. PFLAGER LOCOMO'JIIVE STRUCTURE Filed Ju1'y14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,639,663 'PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY iu. lrFLAeER, or sT. LoUIs, MIssoUEI', AssIG-Non ToCoMMoNwEALTII STEEL` COMPANY, or GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS, A CoEroEATIoN or NEW JERSEY.

LocoMoTIvE STEUCTUEE.

Application led J'ulyv 14, 1926. Serial No. 122,375.

My invention relates to railway rolling stock and consists in an improved locomotive rear end structure. In recent years, the size v of the locomotives has been increased substantially, and particularly the locomotive fire box and ash pan have increased to take care of larger boiler requirements and to effectively burn lignite and inferior grades of coal. The supporting of these large re lo boxes has been a problem, the solution of which has resulted in departures from the well known locomotive construction in which the re boxr and adjacent superstructure has been mounted upon a cradle secured to the rear end ofthe main frame of the locomotive and partially supported upon trailer wheels either journaled In the cradleor forming part of a trailer tru'ck pivoted tothe locomotive main frame.

One solution of the problem is embodied in the structure shown in my copending applicationSerial Number 124,662, lerd July 24, 1926, in which the cradle is widened so that its sides are located outside of the truck` frame, thereby providing more room for the re boxand ash pan.

Another arrangement 1s shown in Thomson Patent No. 1,145,524, in which a central cradle-like member is provided at the rear of the main frame of the locomotive and is supported at a single point upon a pony truck having a center plate connection to the cradle. l

The main object of my present invention is to utilize some of the features shown in the diii'erent arrangements referred to in combination with other features whereby adequate superstructure support is provided with a maximum amount of space for large 40 ire box, and ash pan members and whereby the longitudinal stresses may be properly taken care. of by a cradle member forming an extension of the locomotive bed.

An additional object of my invention is to trallyv of the locomotive but which is supported at points spaced substantially from the locomotive center line and is also adapted to support the locomotive superstructure at similarly spaced points.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cradle member of the type referred to in a one-piececastin thereby securing the maximum amount o strength for a given provide a cradle member which extends cenamount of metal and eliminating the necessity for providing for assembly lof a number of parts such as is required in the builtup structure.

Preferably, I form the centrally located cradle member integrally with the locomotive main frame or bed and the provision of such structure is an additional objectof my invention. In the accompanying drawings which-illustrate my invention- Figure 1 is a onehalf longitudinal top view of the locomotive cradle member and adjacent portion of the main frame or bed vand the trailer truck with which these parts are assembled. p

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken sub` stantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same. parts with the locomotive mud ring and ash pan also shown.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the cradle portion alone and modified somewhat from its preferred structure.

Figure 5 -is a section similar to Figure 2 but illustrating a modified ash pan arrangement.

The rear end of one`of the side members 1 of the main frame is shown in its relation to the rear driver 2 and 4extendin rearwardly therefromis .the centrally Ilocated cradle member 3, here shown as being boxshape in cross section through substantially all of its length and having each of its sides diverging at itsI forward end to merge with the rear end of the adjacent side frame 1. Preferably the main frame and cradle are integrally formed in a one-piece casting.

The rear end of the cradle member is shaped to provide an integral foot plate 4 andthe drawbar pocket forming elements 5. The rear portion of the cradle isalsov rovided with integral transversely exten ing arms 6 which are supported upon suitable rocker bearings 7 carried `by the trailer truck frame 8, the sides or wheel pieces of which are spaced apart a greater distance than the main frame sides 1'. y

The outer portions of arm 6 form brackets 9 for expansion plates 10 which support the rear end of the mudring 11. Preferably l the ash pan 12 is mounted upon the trailing truck frame 8, see Figure 2, although this mounting of the ash pan is not essential and the ash pan may be carried by the mud ring as is familiarpractice. I refer that the ash pan extend over the cra le member 3 and be spaced therefrom so as to protect .the cradle member from the vhot ashes.

In the modification shown in Figure 5 I illustrate an. arrangement of the ash an 26 and truck frame 27 in which the as pan hoppers y28 extend over the truck frame. This construction does not materially affect the construction of the cradle member 29. l

The forward portion of the cradle-has transverse arms 13 which project outside of the face of the main frames 1 and are provided with suitable brackets 14 which .carry the front end of the mud ring. The oulcr end of each arm 13 is provided with an integral brake hanger bracket 15 adjacent to the rear driver 1.- c A A preferred form of trailer truck comprises a four wheel truck having a frame, the sides of which converge in front of the truck to form a central pivotal connection to the front end of the cradle structure, as indicated at 16. The rear of the trailer truck is adaptedto carry a booster motor 17 which (may be operatively connected to the truck /axle to assist the maincylinders and drivers in'starting the locomotive under a heavy load or in propelling the locomotive up a steep grade.

The weight of the cradle and its load is vpreferably distributed to the trailer truck vand the driving axles through an equalized spring system including equalizers 18 and 19 pivoted on the truck frame and links 20 which support the end of the equalizers from the ends of the springs 21, this being a wellknown and satisfactory equalizing system.

In the modification illustrated in Fi re 4f, the cradle memberis shown as being ormed complete, but-separate from the locomotive main frame a'nd adapted to be attached thereto by bolts or othe securing means. In this embodiment of m invention the main portion 22 .of the cradle is of I-shape cross section but the forward end is bifurcated to provide spaced4 walls 25 for attachment to the main frame of the locomotive. The main features of my preferred construction are retained including the transverse arms 23 to be supported on ,the truck side bearings and for carrying the rear end of the fire box structure. This form also preferably includes the arms 24 correspondlng to the arms 13, of the cradle shown in Figures 1 and 3.

' may be mounted upon two-wheel Obviously these or similar cradle members trailing trucks as well as four-wheel trailing trucks and the cross sectional shapes and disposition oi" ribs and surfaces may be changed as desired..l These and other modifications in the details of my invention may be made withbut departing rom'the spirit thereof, and l ing a front portion having spaced sides, and' a centrally located portion extending rearwardly of said sides and having laterally 'extending membersfor supporting the locomotive superstructure. l

4. A one-piece locomotive. frame comprising a front portion having spaced sides, and a centrally located portion extending rearwardlyof said' sides, there being transverse members on said central portion extending beyond the planes of said sides and adapted to support locomotive superstructure near their outer ends. n

5. Acne-piece locomotive frame comprising a front portion having spaced sides, and a centrally located portion extending rearwardly of said sides, there being transverse members on the front and rear ends of said central portion extending beyond the planes of said sides and adapted to support locomotive superstructure.

6. In a locomotive cradlea central longitudinal member adapted to fire box of the locomotive and to transmit longitudinal stresses, and lateral projections on said member for supporting the fire box adjacent the sides of the same.

7. Ina locomotive cradle, a central lon tudinal member adapted to extend under t e fire box of the locomotive and to transmit longitudinal stresses, and transversely spaced bearings on said member for supporting the same on a trailer truck frame outside of the wheel tread.

8. A locomotive cradle member comprising a one-piece casting box-shape in cross-secextend under thel lul) ' ting member extending from said main frame over said truck and supported on the latter. k

. 12. In 'a locomotive, a main frame, a radial 'trailer truck, and a central draft-transmitting member extending :from said main frame over said truck and-supported on the latter, and an ash pan carried on'said truck.

13. In a locomotive, a main frame, a radial truck including a frame, side bearingcarrying elements onf said frame, anda central A, draft-transmitting memberextending from said main frame over said truckand supported on said side bearings.

14. In a locomotive, a'main frame, a radial truck including a frame, side bearing carry.- ing elements on said frame spaced al greateru distance from each other than the sides of said main frame, 'an ash pan carriedon said frame, and a central draft-trafllsmitting member extending -I'rmn'said main frame over said truck and ash `panand .supported YYen said frame. 15. In a locomotive, amain frame, 'a radlal 25 truck, and a central draft-transmittingmember extending from saidmain frame over said truck' and supported thereon near its rear end and having transverse arms at its 4.

front and rear ends for supporting the looomotive lire box.

16. In a locomotive, a mainframe, a radial said truck an having transverse armsat its'l front and rear. ends for transferrin its weight and load to therear'portions o said truck an-d main frame, and for supporting tshe zmt and rear portions of thelocomotive re'- X'.

-, VIntestimony whereof I hereunto ailix 4my 'l signature thislth day of uly, 1926.

H. M. PFLAGER. 

